Plan Your Visit
Ready to choose your SOAR date? Look for a link to the SOAR Reservation System in your email.
Before making your reservation, you will need to:
- Pay your enrollment deposit to the Office of Admissions & Recruitment.
- Schedule your placement test(s). Failure to complete tests at least two weeks before attending SOAR may delay your ability to enroll in the upcoming semester’s courses.
Once you are eligible to make a SOAR reservation, a reminder email will be sent to the address provided on your application for admission. You will then be invited to visit the SOAR reservation system to select your date. SOAR sessions are available based on a variety of factors. Please log into the reservation system to see which dates are available to you.
We do our best to accommodate SOAR attendees’ schedules. However, we cannot guarantee availability of all SOAR dates. If you cannot schedule a SOAR session due to extenuating circumstances, please contact our staff at soar@studentaffairs.wisc.edu or 608-262-4707.
On this page:
Updating Your Reservation
To make changes or review your SOAR session details, please log into the SOAR Reservation System via the link in your email. Changes to SOAR reservations must be made at least two weeks prior to your SOAR date. Cancellations made less than one week before your SOAR date cannot be refunded.
Getting to SOAR
The following regional and international airports offer proximate access – as well as some options for additional bus travel – to and from campus:
- Dane County Regional Airport, Madison, WI – Approximately 20 minutes from campus
- General Mitchell International Airport , Milwaukee, WI – Approximately 90 minutes from campus
- O’Hare International Airport, Chicago, IL – Approximately 2 hours from campus
- Midway International Airport, Chicago, IL – Approximately 2 hours from campus
- Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Minneapolis, MN – Approximately 4 hours from campus
Whether you’re coming from the airport, out of state, or even within Madison, bus services are a great option to get you to campus.
- The City of Madison’s Metro Transit system operates routes between campus and the Greater Madison area, including the Dane County Regional Airport.
- Badger Bus runs between campus and Mitchell International Airport with a few stops along the way.
- Van Galder Bus runs between campus and O’Hare International Airport, Midway International Airport, Downtown Chicago, northern Illinois, and southern Wisconsin.
- MegaBus services many cities and is a great option for those travelling to and from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Greyhound Bus services many cities and states to and from campus.
Find additional information on bus travel here.
Public parking is available in paid garages on campus and throughout downtown Madison. More information about UW–Madison parking lot options will be provided soon.
You can find more information on planning your visit here. You can also reference the campus map.
Parking Information
University Visitor Parking
Find current vacancies in campus lots/ramps using the interactive map. Daily rates are a maximum of $15 per day.
City of Madison Public Garages
The State Street Campus Garage (430 N. Francis St., Madison, WI 53703) is the closest option with parking spaces for $1.80 per hour.
If you reserved parking in your SOAR reservation, you will receive more information about accessing your assigned lot approximately one week prior to your SOAR session.
Staying in University Housing at the Lowell Center
SOAR housing accommodations (separate from your SOAR session reservation) are arranged in our undergraduate housing space in the Lowell Center (610 Langdon St., Madison, WI 53703). Located near Memorial Union, Memorial Library, and State Street, with beautiful views of Lake Mendota. These rooms are hotel-style for the summer.
For questions, please contact University Housing by email at HousingSOAR@housing.wisc.edu or by phone at 608-262-8561
Lowell Center Details
Check-In: 10:30 a.m. on Day 1
After checking in for your reservation, head to Union South to check in for the SOAR program to receive your nametag and materials. Please allow 30 minutes of travel time from Lowell Center to Union South.
Check-Out: 8 a.m. on Day 2
Complimentary, secure luggage checks will be available to store your luggage until you leave campus.
Air-conditioned rooms are furnished with a single bed per occupant. Each bed is premade with sheets, blanket, bedspread, and pillow with protector and case. Hangers are located in each closet. Toiletries per person include one bath towel, one hand towel, one washcloth, soap (1.5 oz), one lotion, one shampoo, and facial tissues for the room. All rooms have free high-speed wireless guest internet access. Extra blankets, pillows, and toiletries are available at the front desk
A continental breakfast will be served Monday–Friday. Offerings will include fresh-baked pastries, fresh fruit, made-to-order pancakes, and other freshly made continental breakfast items to help you start your day.
Family members, guests, and siblings may also stay in the residence hall during SOAR. During the student room selection process, once the student selects the appropriate occupancy, they will be prompted to enter the name(s) of the family member/guest to complete registration. Students can only make one reservation with a maximum of three beds.
Note: Children under age eight cannot be unattended in the halls. If you are interested in other accommodations, learn about other options here.
If students would like to room together, one student will need to register for the room and will be billed for it. The other student should be listed as a guest in the room.
Cancellation Policy: Lowell Center reservations must be cancelled 48 hours prior to your SOAR session. Cancellations made within 48 hours of your session will be charged for one night.
Rescheduling: To reschedule your stay, you must cancel your initial reservation and schedule a new one.
Note: Making changes to your Lowell Center reservation does not automatically change your SOAR reservation and vice versa. Please confirm you have made changes in both systems ahead of your SOAR session.
Stay On Campus
Lowell Center
Lowell Center, 610 Langdon St
Phone: 608-262-8561
(Only available for First-Year Summer SOAR Sessions)
Wisconsin Union Hotel
Union South, 1308 W. Dayton St.
608-263-2600
The Fluno Center
601 University Avenue
1-877-773-5866
Stay in Madison
Graduate by Hilton Madison
Graduate by Hilton Madison is located just one block from the Wisconsin Memorial Union. Blending Madison traditions and campus legends with creative interiors and nostalgia of the glory days of college life. Limited blackout dates apply.
DoubleTree by Hilton – Downtown Madison
The DoubleTree by Hilton – Downtown Madison is one block from the Kohl Center and a half-mile from campus, State Street, and the state capitol.
NCG Hospitality Hotels
With seven Greater Madison area Hilton and Marriott hotels, North Central Group (NCG) hotels are conveniently located near all activities around campus.